Reviews by FormatKid:

I dumped this beer from its stubby brown 12oz into a shaker pint. The body of this beer is black with ruby highlights. A large off-white head steams up, but practically vanishes before your eyes in seconds. All that remains is a thin cap of foam that gets a little thicker in a ring around the edge of the glass. The nose on this beer is very assertive, as soon as the bottle is open and poured a couple feet away from my face I smell sweet chocolate aromas and rum-soaked fruit. A closer sniff reveals brown sugar, big sweet chocolate aromas, and subdued-cherry, I really like the way the subdued aromas produced by bottom fermenting yeast lets the malt character really shine through. The first sip is amazing, warm dark chocolate slides over my tongue. Eventually a vast bitterness develops and swirls around with over-ripe cherry flavors, and tart grapey splashes. Coffee is hinted at as well but not dominating, there's almost a smokiness here. The finish is lightly sour, a tad dry and really keeps you coming back for more. Mouthfeel is slick yet substantial, perfect in other words. This beer garners huge respect from me for this style of beer, I cannot wait to explore it further.

More User Reviews:

Pours a deep black with a slight reddish tint when held up to the light with a light moch colored head.Suprisingly the aroma was light in my opinion some deeply roasted malt aromas come thru and some sweet nuttiness.Taste was very nice even more so as it warms pretty complex mix of roasted malt and some burnt fruit with a light nuttiness alcohol is not real prevalent here.A pretty drinkable beer for its abv very well made and complex, a good brew here.

Appearance  Jet black in color with a nice, big, tanned head that left a ring on top of the liquid.

Smell  Darkness abounds in this Porter. The roasted malts are mixed with many other dark smells. Theres a charcoal aroma here that reminds me of summertime grilling. The coffee is more like coffee grounds. The espresso is more doppio than latté. The bread is more burnt than toasted. You get the idea.

Theres also a light hoppy fruity sweetness to this one. Normally, I hate that in a Strong Porter. But here it is bold and substantial, not light and wimpy. Im looking forward to see how this all plays out at the tongue.

Taste  Bingo! The eagle has landed. This is a killer Porter. The super-burnt bready character comes out huge after warming. VENOMs doppelbock meets Imp Stout comment is right on track. This is a burnt BSDA laced with a highly refined fresh fruit compliment.

I cant emphasize how burnt this flavor seems. And, interestingly, its not overly bitter. It has some light sugary fruit compliments that keep this from being too much. All in all, this is on par with the Stone 6th Anniversary and much more traditional.

Mouthfeel  If I can get my one criticism aside, this Porter is a bit on the fizzy side. Again, more like a fluffy BSDA than a Strong/Baltic Porter. Having said that, the other aspects of the mouthfeel are sensational.

Drinkability  Its already gone, so I cant take one more sip to comment on this aspect of the rating. I will say though that I have one more bottle that Ill keep for a very special occasion like, maybe, I dont know, NOW!

Comments  Davo sure knows how to pick out beers for trading. As great as this one is, it was but a small compliment to a wonderful shipment that he sent my way. A big BA thumbs up for giving me the opportunity to experience this most excellent offering by Heavyweight. Between this and the Old Salty it is rapidly becoming one of my favorite breweries.

A: Deep body of black oil. Very little head, big bubbles that remind me of a soda. As the beer warms and agitation brings back head its more subdued and looks better.

S: Smoke, chocolate, soft malt, some acidity, smoked meats

T: First wave is very soft and velvety malt with very balanced sugar, just a touch. Light vinous, raison quality follows, some gritty chocolate as well. The sharp and sour acidity starts to take hold but doesnt really pull through until the finish. Smoke rises up in the mouth as if from the fire and adds complexity on the finish as the beer evolves a bit. Last flash is a soy sauce acidity that disipates pretty quickly.

M/D: Crisp and clean, medium bodied at best. I would like more chew to the mouthfeel but at the right temperature this goes down pretty easy, especially for 8%. An enjoyable brew but one I will have to revisit because as it stands I dont get the hype about it. Nothing spectacular to me.

A word of warning. Let this beer warm to near room temp, or room temp first, dont get impatient. Cold the sour acidity is much more pronounced and quite unpleasant. Warm, it adds complexity and its characteristic of the style.

Perkuno's Hammer pours from the stubby 12oz bottle a deep pitch black with a small dark tan head that becomes a ring around the top. Spotty lacing everywhere. Aromas of big roasty dark chocolate with a heavy helping of dark fruity aromas. Plum, currant, raisins are all in the mix. A hint of burnt coffee and a light vinous aroma. Quite nice.

First sip brings lots of dark fruity flavors upfront, with notes of plums, raisins, black currants and grapes. A nice chocolate flavor moves in midway through the sip along with a nice roastiness. Just a touch of burnt coffee on the way down. Finishes with a lingering dark fruitiness and a nice mix of sweet & bitter flavors. No alcohol to be found.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth with laid back carbonation. This is easy to drink and a tasty treat at that. A fairly big brew that still maintains plenty of drinkability. I'd be down for a few in a sitting if I had easier access to this one. Thank you dmeadows for this one!

Appearance: This should be the defination of pitch black. Head was somewhat small even with a couple of good glugs but had a good chocolate milk color. Dissapeared quickly to the thinnest of layers. Head could have been a bit better.

Smell: The smell is amazingly strong. As soon as the cap was popped I could smell this beer. A pick up dark toasted malts with strong overtones of vanilla. Chocolate and mocha prevail as well. A touch of floral hops in there to boot. This is an awesome smelling beer.

Taste: Damn...I could leave it at that and I think all of you would understand. Lots of good chocolate with coffee presenting itself as well. Some dark fruits in there along with a little bite of vanilla in the finish. I wish I could describe this a little more. This is just damn tasty...

Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy but goes down silky smooth. Only a light bit of carbonation...just how it should be. Coats the mouth extremely well.

Drinkability: This is amazing as well. This thick bodied full flavored brew just tastes and smells so good that I would GLADLY drink a good bit of these.

Presentation: 12oz short brown bottle with a twist-off cap. No freshness date, but the beer wears a cloud filled label (no cloud and thunder-bolt on this one) that, if you are not cautious, will trap your attention and bring on waking dreams.

Appearance: An ominous opaque black beer with a crackling thick tan head and bursting bubbles that calm to a thin creamy wisp lace.

Taste: Sherry-like blast up-front, drying and prickly on the palate. Notes of burnt raisins, intense roasted astringency and citric-like hop bitterness stings like salted rind. Hints of dark berries and fruits twang with a complex and chaotic fruity base. Sweetness falls in places with a rich grape juice- and plum-like mask that coats for a brief moment. Fruity meets herbal, then lingers into a thickish malty dream of tobacco, ground espresso beans and delicious chocolate edges. The beer's peppery alcohol demands respect, while suggestions of bark and wood lead to a powdery grain finish that dries into a moreish experience.

Notes: Perkuno's is one of the rare. It's a beer that simply takes you to another place and provides one of the best beer drinking experiences available. I imagine that this is the drink of choice amongst the beer gods, and I hail them with great joy for sharing this insanely sublime nectar with me.

Update after a couple at EBF: No trace of fusels, and the flavor has expanded seemingly exponentially: now there's coffee (THANK YOU for putting the beans back in, Tom B.!), port, cocoa... just such a massively drinkable Imperial porter. Outstanding.

Dark brown, opaque, with a thin bead that lasts surprisingly well.

The nose has all kinds of black cherries, plums, and fruity malt aromas. Then the flavors hit your piehole - chocolate, blackcurrant, cherry, roasty, and a warming surge o' alcohol - in this united front that is most impressive. The finish is VERY warm - the alcohol's feeling its oats & wants you to know it's there, so it lights a fusel. Ha ha ha, I slay me. Once that dies off, though, a round, bitter chocolate finish takes control. The fusel effect diminishes as it warms. A nice fireside beer, as long as your breath doesn't ignite.

Beautiful darkness that you cannot see through if you tried to...
Georgeous light brown head with bubbles edged with dark chocolate brown... loveliness.... Wow! Head did not last as long as I would have liked, man, could have just sat and watched that little show for a bit... but it just left a nice little ring and dusting in the center.
Scents of a port but more heavily of a thick soy sauce. Smells like a good porter or stout. Smooth and lightly creamy tasting... yummmm... Tastes of a thick and dark coffee... port wine... bit of a vineous quality... burnt toast....
Not too heavy at all, could easily sit back for a few more hammers!
-also had the luck of having this at Heavyweight's night at the DraftingRoom in Exton, PA with Tom Baker... wow is it even more freaking lovely flowing from the tap!!!! Just when you think this can't get any better... it blasts out of their handle into a glass and gives you a permi-smile! Can you say schweet??

On cask at NERAX. Christ on a crutch! This is dangerous stuff, the warmth of the alcohol waits to hit you after the pint is finished in a very deceiving way for 9.1% abv. Big ripe dark fruity undertones from start to finish, roasted flavours are all over the place with charcoal and coffee. The sheer maltiness of this brew was staggering and may have been a big reason why the alcohol was hidden so much. This by far was the best offering the NERAX as far as dark ales went.

Finally, available in southwestern Virginia, at the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg.
Pours an opaque, ebony body with a two finger, light brown, head that retains quite well and deposits waves of sheet lace down the sides of the imperial pint glass.
Aroma is fascinating. Munich and chocolate malts lend a chocolate and leathery aroma, initially. As it warms, tobacco and prunes are picked up in the nose. Hops presence is anything but subdued, and lends a nutty and licorice note.
Mouthfeel is chewy and full bodied, with medium carbonation and a moderate hops sting on the tongue.
The taste is exceptional, and teasingly complex. Chocolate takes center stage, complimented by a dark fruity component of prunes and figs, followed by a meek note of roasted coffee. Tobacco, old leather, and licorice add to the amazing complexity. Hops are prominent, as well, with a bold and bitter herbal character. Malts become even more assertive toward the finish, with essences of dark fruits(prunes and figs), and an aftertaste of bitter, coffee grounds. The 8% abv is noticeable, but unobtrusive.
Drinkability suffers slightly from the immense complexity of this classic Baltic Porter. This is a brew to sip and savor. I had very high expectations for this one, and was not disappointed.

12 ounce bottle, twist top, Pours deepest of dark brown, minimal dark tan head, leaving some lace and dissolving in a tiny bubble sheen.
Bold and dark, this is a flavorful strong porter. notes of charred fruit, molasses, coffee,roasted malt. Nice mellow hops flow into the palate to add depth, balance and complexity. This is a very satisfying creation. Would stand up to any hardy fare, BBQ, spicy dishes. Well worth seeking out and enjoying.

I was real happy to find this brew available at Lukes Liquors in Rockland, MA.
Pours a serious dark black w/ brown head that is very minimal and just about disappears entirely. Lace is thin and strolls down the glass rapidly.
Aroma is a buttery, malted delight...vanilla and caramel up front.
The taste is packed full of flavors...rum, coffee, chocolate covered cherries w/ a bit of hop thrown in for the fun of it.
Mouthfeel is thick and wet...not too much carbonation in here.
Drinkability is decent...I could throw pack a couple of these.
A solid porter and one I would definitely pickup again.

I bought this as a single at Union Jack's on the Manatawny. I drank it in a goblet.

Pours an almost opaque garnet/brown with brown edges in the light. A one finger head of tan foam forms on top, falls to a good coating and a ring, with decent splotches of lacing on the glass.

Aroma is huge fruity dark malt, like prunes and dark cherries, maybe rum soaked raisins., with a dash of dark toffee candy. There are some fairly strong floral hops in there, and a good dose of chocolate also. The chocolate smell really increases as it warms.

Flavor is big fruity chocolate, with fruits like above. Fairly strong alcohol warmth present, and a big floral hop flavor. Chocolate is the dominant flavor. Imperial porter, you bet! This is very yummy. Aftertaste is chocolatey, hoppy, and warm.

Mouthfeel is full bodied and slightly oily on the tongue. It's smooth and creamy, with gentle carbonation. Finish is slightly oily and dries out a little. This has a wonderful mouthfeel.

A truly delicious beer. Alcohol comes through only a little. The chocolate and hop character work very well together. I sat and sniffed the empty glass.

Dark brown like a wall of thick mud, not even the slightest bit of light shining through. Low flat head of dark brown bubbles rides on top and slowly recedes back. Smell is not strong, but has definite notes of cocoa, coffee, and fig. Rich chocolatey flavor with burnt coffee grounds along for the ride. More fig, some raisin, and a tingly bitter coffee finish that lingers. Perhaps some tart and tannic fruits like currant showing through. Low malt flavors coming through, and the alcohol slyly hidden beneath it all. Very enjoyable slow sippin' beer.

It's a dark one. I have half a glass of foam and half a glass of beer. Needless to say there is lots of retention. Fat sheet of foam finally settles out.

Smells of coffee and other sundry chocolate malts.

Tastes smooth, damn smooth for such a big beer. Lots of the chocolate ebbs in to the recesses of your mouth and slowly weaves it's way down the palate. Creamy middle leads to a nice warming ending. Faboo.

I was worried that it would taste overcarbonmated but it didn't. Big side for a porter but it is a baltic.

This is an outstanding Baltic Porter. It pours a rather dark color. The head is foamy, tannish in color, and long lasting. The smell is of sweet roasted malts. The tase is very flavorfull. A smooth mouthfeel. This is a beer to be searched out and enjoyed.

Very easy to see why this beer ranks in the top fifty, because it's amazing!!! Black, pretty safe to rule it as opaque pours with a nice frothing tan head and forms a trickled lace as the beer empites down my gullet. Aroma greets me with roasted slightly burnt malt and a chocolate smoothness that brings about an underlying sweetness. The first sip sends a crescendo of sweet raisiny goodness wrapped in chocolate complemented by the great classic dark roasts of any great porter. The mouthfeel is just full creamy texture that can only be described as one of the smoothest beers ever. Drinkabilty can be said in one word: DANGEROUS!!! 8.9 abv and you can drink this stuff all day cuz it's so smooth and delicious, hides the taste of alcohol very well. I tip my hat to the brewers for crafting this fine delight.

On tap at Tria in Philly a week back. The beer was served in a pint glass and had a deep chocolately brown body with a thick tan head that ran away rather quickly. The aroma is of roasted malts, a bit chocoately and nutty. Very nice. The taste is equally enjoyable on the palate. Although this is a full bodied beer, it is smooth to drink with the tasted of toasted malts, a bit of fruit sweetness and a bit of nuts. A sold beer, despite the full body and high ABV.

Perkuno's Hammer Imperial Porter by Heavyweight is a highy touted beer so I couln't wait to drink this.

The "Hammer" poured a pitch black. I held it up to my lamp and no light penetrated it! It had a nice frothy brown head with a nice roasted coffee aroma.
Perkuno has a very burnt coffee taste that is very sweet. Too burnt for me. The "Hammer" has a nice smooth feel on the tongue with a sweet coffebean aftertaste.

Perkuno's Hammer wasn't as tasty as I thought it was going to be. I just don't like the burnt taste certain beers offer. Sorry, not a fan of this Imperial Porter

Pours as black as Auggie Busch's heart. Minimal head, probably due to the full glass. Sweet doppelbocky aroma with some anise and licorice thrown in. Just a monster porter. I was expecting a thick, chewy, sticky, full bodied brew and that is Perkuno's in spades. Plenty of dark, ripe fruits over big expresso and chocolate. Finishes with some subtle hop resins to keep it from being overly sweet. Something different for porter lovers to seek out and try.

A greasy, oily black substance poured from the bottle, and it was followed by some rapid bubble activity. Unfortunately the head didn't last long at all (what was there was a dark tan/light brown foam).

The expected chocolate/coffee robustness is present in the aroma, but there's also something happening that's lighter, sweeter...fruitier, even. I'm ready...

The flavors remind of chocolate yogurt, cherries soaked in espresso, and toffee-flavored coffee ice cream. A nutty element works its way in too. Whole lot of complexity here, each facet combining to create a perfectly balanced and well-focused porter.

A powerful sour acid, evidently from romano beans that subtracted from stoutlike characteristics of roast, herbal hops, anise,some chocolate malt, molasses. With undated bottle, who knows? Thanks for the sample, lubiere. Watch for the alcohol creeping up on you.

A bajillion thanks to Autumnaldave for randomly checking my outdated Wants and Gots and bringing me a bottle third hand when we had a little gathering at Maduro and the Dane a few weeks ago.

Pour is midnight black with a few mm's of dark chocolate head that succombs to the 'Hammer in a few seconds. Nose is a robust concoction bringing in notes of smoke, dark fruit, licorice, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Taste somehow one-ups the nose, slamming the tongue with charred coffee grounds, dark chocolate-covered berries, smoked jerky, vanilla-biscuit and fuming booze - a crushing blow to the palate. Mouthfeel is rich and creamy; thick, but still smooth. Still...this is probably a one and done for me, just too rich and intense for any more. Has a lot in common with Bell's Expedition Stout, but much more complex and much more nuanced and refined. An outstanding impy porter, breaks my heart to hear the brewery is going under. Another huge thanks to Illinois Dave for hooking my newbie ass up.